We also have close links and specific teams or workers who devote time to the following external services:

Youth Offending Service

North East Substance Team

Paediatrics and A&E

Pupil Referral Units

Early Intervention in Psychosis Team

Special Schools

We also have a 24/7 team which offers both quick response to emergency mental health presentations, as well as short term intensive home treatment which is designed to avoid young people being placed in out of area hospitals. Only CAMHS staff can refer for intensive home treatment.

Children and young people with a learning disability who may be experiencing a mental health problem have equal access to the service, and we have a specialist learning disability team for those whose needs cannot be met by the mainstream service.

How we do it

All the interventions we provide for mental health problems are designed to help young people and families cope with the symptoms of a mental health problem and recover to lead their life to its full potential. These interventions are based around evidence from the National Centre for Clinical Excellence. Examples of some of these interventions are:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

Family work

Play therapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

A lot of work is done with young people in group settings. This gives an opportunity for young people to interact with others experiencing similar difficulties, however, we also acknowledge that not all the young people can be seen in a group setting so we also see people individually and with their families.

Referrals

To access the service, a referral is often made by a health professional working with the child or young person with parental consent, however, we also receive and accept referrals from other professionals working with children and young people. Once we accept a referral, an appointment will be arranged via telephone. If we think the situation is urgent (which relates to a possibility of risk to life and/or presentations such as serious eating disorders), we will offer an appointment within 5 days. For emergencies (which relates to definite risk to life and presentations such as psychosis), an appointment is arranged within 24 hours.